Single nanoparticle localization in the perforated lamellar phase of self-assembled block copolymer driven by entropy minimization

Tae Won Nam, Jae Won Jeong, Min Jae Choi, Kwang Min Baek, Jong Min Kim, Yoon Hyung Hur, Yongjoo Kim, Yeon Sik Jung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although precisely controlled microdomains of block copolymers (BCP) provide an excellent guiding matrix for multiple nanoparticles (NPs) to be controllably segregated into a desired polymer block, localization and positioning of individual NPs have not been demonstrated. Here, we report a unique one-to-one positioning phenomenon of guest Au NPs in the host BCP microdomains; each of polystyrene-functionalized Au NPs is embedded within the perforation domain of hexagonally perforated lamellar (HPL) morphology of poly(dimethylsiloxane-b-styrene) BCP. The local minimization of free energy achieved by the placement of Au NPs into the center of the perforation domain is theoretically supported by the self-consistent field theory (SCFT) simulation. We propose a novel design principle for more precisely controllable nanocomposites by developing a new route of NP arrangement within a polymer matrix.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7938-7944
Number of pages7
JournalMacromolecules
Volume48
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Nov 2015

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